Pumpkin Patch

We took the girls to the Longmont pumpkin patch last year and decided to go back again this year, even though it is a long drive we love it there. The girls had much more fun this year than last as they actually got to participate in some of the fun things for kids. There was a petting zoo, carnival rides, and their favorite - the bounce house!

Mommy pulling the girls around the patch in a wagon The girls under the magic tree - by this time they spotted the bounce house and only wanted to go there!

Finally! Isabella got fed up with dilly dallying around the pumpkin patch and got out of the wagon to run over to the bounce house :) It was cute, they had so much fun in there!

In fact, they has so much fun we went back again a few days later - this time they were in there with lots of big kids and they held their own, we were proud of them!

We can't wait for next year already!

18 months

The girls will be 18 months old on November 4th, and they had their 18 month check-up on Thursday with Dr. Knott. He said they are doing great! Sophia is still in the 25% for weight (22.9lbs) and height (30.75 inches). Isabella is 5% for weight (20.4lbs) and 10% for height (30 inches. They both still have big heads 90 and 85%!

They are right where they should be with motor skills and language. Such big girls lately, they mimic us constantly and have lots of new words. Sophia says mama, dada, dog, whats that, uh-oh, hi , sock and there (when she's handing us something). Isabella says mama, dada, dog, uh-oh, hi, whats that, car, and sock. They babble all the time and do some games like pretend to sleep and high five. Isabella likes to hide behind things when it's time for nap :) and she can give kisses. Sophia is so close to giving kisses but she makes a funny fish face instead, very cute. They both have 16 teeth already so we are done with teething until the 2-year molars - whew!

They are getting pretty good at eating with forks and spoons and lately we give them a plate at the table instead of using the high-chair tray. So far they love it! They can even feed themselves yogurt or cottage cheese using spoons and a little bowl. It's fun having all four of us around the table, our little family :)

Birthday Brunch

This year was the big 50th birthday for Mimi, and Papa turned 52 a few days later....we had a birthday brunch at our house to celebrate. Happy Birthday Mimi and Papa!

James and Bradley manning the waffle station, they look like they are up to something....


Yep, definitely up to trouble! No wonder the waffle recipe didn't make as many as it should :)

Turned out to be a beautiful day so we had brunch outside

Papa and Isabella snuggling on the couch - they were watching the bronco game

So cute!

Kid central!

Playing dress up

Sophia just loves to play dress-up! She tried on her christmas hat and got her purse out, then she was trying on my shoes and she looked like a little old lady getting ready to go out on the town - she cracks us up!

We found these chicken outfits for their halloween costumes this year - they are so cute! We have had little chickens running around our house ever since, the girls would live in these outfits 24/7 if we let them :)
Our girlie girls absolutely love to try on new clothes and parade around the house...these cute little dresses came from Great-Grammy at my baby shower

Sophia was putting on everything she could find :) Bronco shirt, coat, hat, sunglasses, check!

Go Broncos!

We kicked off the start of the 2009-2010 football season today. The girls had fun watching the game with their daddy and playing with their own little football.

The cutest Bronco fans in Denver!

Their new game is to lay down on pillows with their blankets and pretend they are sleeping. We go "shhhhhhhhh...babies are sleeping be quiet", then they pop up and laugh!

The Broncos won with a last minute (literally!) touchdown and saved the day!

Pigtails

It took 16 months but the girls finally got pigtails!

Enjoying the last days of summer

It's hard to believe that summer is officially over, I find myself wondering where the time has gone! We had a great summer spending weekends up in Keystone, finishing our pergola, and playing outside with the girls...

Here is Isabella pushing Sophia around on their dolly's stroller - notice it was not meant to hold a 20lb kid!
Where did Sophie go?
Some pictures of our finished pergola - we are thrilled with how great it looks, and we are out there enjoying the space every day that we are home!

The girls playing on the patio
We spent Labor Day weekend in Keystone with Mimi and Papa. We had lots of fun going on a picnic, bike rides to Keystone Lake and River Run Village, swimming in the pool, and taking our bikes up to the top of North Peak (well, technically the bikes were hooked on the back of the Jeep as we drove to the top but hey - it sounds good!) James and Papa also managed to paint most of the ceiling white - although it took one coat of primer plus 3 coats of paint....

Here is Papa driving through a creek on the way to a picnic spot - yes I almost had a heart attack when we followed them!
We are still following Papa on a crazy road - this time up to the top of North Peak. This is one steep ski run!


James and Papa getting ready to build our campfire - Lord knows the men like to build FIRES :)


Mimi helping the girls draw in the dirt with sticks
Our little princesses having fun playing in the dirt (and of course, since they are girlie girls - with the flowers!)


Isabella was being a little supermodel when we took this picture - she was posing and smiling - so cute!












And finally...the girls learned how to throw pinecones into the creek and they stayed there forever doing it! They were having a lot of fun...

Last day with Tara

Wednesday was the girls last day with Tara - she has been their nanny since they were 3 months old. On my first day back to work she watched them, and she has had them on and off ever since. We will miss you Tara!

16 month stats

The girls had their 16 month visit with Dr. Knott today and all of the shots that go with - yuck!

Sophia is 21lb 14oz (25% in weight), 30.5" tall (50% in height), and her head is 48.1cm (95%!!). He is very happy with her size. She is right on track with the walking, crawling up and down stairs and eating, and maybe a little behind with speech but it is hard to tell this early. He said lots of kids start talking very quickly once they get going. If she's anything like her mommy she will be a chatterbox in no time! She is also starting to get her canine teeth in - so very soon she will have 16 teeth - I love how when she smiles you just see a big mouthfull of teeth!

Isabella seems to have shrunk since the 12 month visit however, she weighs 19lb 11oz (5% in weight), 29 3/4" tall (25% in height) but her head is 47.3cm (90%!!). He wants us to try to plump her up a little bit since she is a bit of a skinny mini these days. No joke, the Dr. really did order her to eat more ice cream (why can't he be my Dr?!?) and fatty foods. So for dinner we are feeding her cheetos and a peanut butter parfait (just kidding!). He was very impressed with how quickly she learned to crawl and walk, and she is the same as Sophia with speech. She still has her 12 teeth - no signs of any more yet but it's been a few months so we are prepared for more soon.

The paper they gave us that outlines what the girls should be doing at this age states that they should be able to understand and follow directions and help with simple chores around the house - what?! I guess James and I are done doing dishes, laundry and mowing the lawn now that the girls are old enough!

Backyard Summer Fun